Despite the fact Orlando City SC can no longer sign reinforcements with the MLS Secondary Transfer Window closing back on August 2, the Lions today sold Ercan Kara to Turkish Süper Lig side Samsunspor.
Opening up a Designated Player slot on the Lions’ roster ahead of the 2024 MLS campaign, the 27-year-old centre forward departs Exploria Stadium as a divisive figure who for some, City’s playing style inhibited, and for others, failed to live up to high expectations in his one-and-a-half seasons with the club.
NEWS: #OrlandoCity transfers Austrian forward Ercan Kara to Samsunspor.
Thank you, Ercan, for helping us lift the U.S. Open Cup and all of your contributions to the club. 💜
Forever a Lion.
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 2, 2023
Samsunspor Ailemize Hoş Geldin Ercan Kara! 🔴⚪️
•••
Welcome to our Samsunspor family Ercan Kara! 🔴⚪
🔗 Detaylar Web Sitemizde https://t.co/pr721jSZ5U#Samsunspor #ErcanKara pic.twitter.com/ovrxH1wFC5
— Yılport Samsunspor 🇹🇷 (@Samsunspor) September 2, 2023
After @NYCFCSOURCE first broke the transfer story on Monday, Tom Bogert then reported news of a failed Samsunspor bid for Ercan Kara on Tuesday.
Per Source: Samsunspor in very advanced talks for Orlando City SC Striker, Ercan Kara. #VamosOrlando
Samsunspor is very close to closing the deal for Kara, more updates to come soon…. https://t.co/F7kwMEicY6
— mls.source (@MLSSource) August 28, 2023
Sources: Orlando City reject a bid from Turkish club Samsunspor for forward Ercan Kara.
Proposal was purported to be “best and final” offer. If no new bid comes, talks are done. Turkish window open until Sept 8.
Orlando happy to keep Kara.https://t.co/RN7dgrocRJ
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) August 29, 2023
This was before news of an improved offer – and a subsequent deal – only a day later.
Turkish club Samsunspor is finalizing a deal to sign Orlando City forward Ercan Kara, sources familiar with the deal tell The Athletic.
The deal will open a designated player spot for Orlando when it’s done.https://t.co/0Iql5JKmZe
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) August 30, 2023
An Austrian international of seven caps, Ercan Kara is of Turkish descent and will now further his professional career beside the Black Sea in the country of his heritage.
Across all competitions, Ercan Kara made 53 appearances for Orlando City SC, 44 of which came in Major League Soccer play.
Making 11 starts and registering five goals and two assists in MLS this season, Ercan Kara leaves Central Florida as City’s ninth all-time highest goalscorer in MLS history with 16 goals.
Kara was also a starter in Orlando City SC‘s historic 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final triumph over Sacramento Republic last season.
On Kara’s exit, Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said: “First we would like to thank Ercan for his dedication and professionalism throughout his time in Orlando.
“We wish him nothing but the best in this next chapter of his career.”
2022 MLS regular season
- 29 games played
- 22 games started
- 1,789 minutes played
- 11 goals
- 3 assists
- 48 total scoring attempts
- 19 shots on target
- 2 yellow cards
- 0 red cards
2022 – Best goal
vs. Columbus Crew (A) – April 16, 2022
A Thing Of Beauty: Orlando City’s Build Up To Ercan Kara’s Goal (Credit: Major League Soccer)
55 MINUTES | 0-2
REPLAY 🎥 | Just let the video do the talking! 😍😍😍😍
Shades of @Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere & Olivier Giroud combining against @NorwichCityFC all those years ago! 🤩
🤯 WHAT A BEAUTY THAT WAS! 🤯#CLBvORL #Crew96 #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/NXvv2xrCEZ
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) April 17, 2022
To date, this is still probably the prettiest goal that Orlando City SC have scored in their Major League Soccer history.
2023 MLS regular season
- 15 games played
- 11 games started
- 852 minutes played
- 5 goals
- 2 assists
- 23 total scoring attempts
- 10 shots on target
- 1 yellow card
- 0 red cards
2023 – Best goal
vs. Tigres UANL (H) – March 15, 2023
🤯⚽ What a finish! Ercan Kara has just scored a stunning bicycle kick to tie up the game for @OrlandoCitySC 🟣 in the final minutes!#SCCL23 pic.twitter.com/iPG4ipsYEj
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) March 16, 2023
Ercan Kara also scored City’s only goal in CONCACAF Champions League play to date too – an impressive bicycle kick against Tigres UANL back on March 15.
Orlando City UK gathered the best tweets following Ercan Kara’s announcement as a Samsunspor player.
Kulübümüz en son Orlando City SC takımında oynayan 27 yaşındaki Ercan Kara ile 3 yıllık sözleşme imzalamıştır.
Sporcumuza ve camiamıza hayırlı olması dileklerimizle. 🔴⚪️#Samsunspor #ErcanKara pic.twitter.com/UJmJuraSaK
— Yılport Samsunspor 🇹🇷 (@Samsunspor) September 2, 2023
Kara provided some great moments for OC.
He’s a quality player who scored some big goals.
We won a trophy with him.
That 🚲 versus Tigres 🔥 😱
I wish him the best as he heads back to Europe. #ForeverALion https://t.co/7mavwZ0MG9
— 🏆 Orlando Lions Den Podcast (@OrlandoLionsDen) September 2, 2023
I don't think we sign anybody with the DP slot this season.
Probably just call Jack Lynn up to first team for the rest of the season and playoffs.
Use DP slot in off-season when there are more and better options.
— Daniel Cluley 🧢💜🦁💙🌞 (@DanielCluley) August 30, 2023
Kara’s move to Turkey is official. He didn’t have the smash hit run some of City’s other DPs have, but he was far from a bust and helped win a trophy.
This move opens a DP spot for Orlando. Meanwhile, Jack Lynn looks more than ready to take over as Duncan McGuire’s backup. https://t.co/RWOhiOwaQd
— Evan Weston (@EvanLWeston) September 2, 2023
I think it's the best for both sides. He didn't seem comfortable or to fit in, and for the amount of money our expectations needed to be high.
Knowing that we have this DP spot opened for next season it's pretty exciting… DP #10 perhaps? 🤔— Moraima (@Moraima_4) August 31, 2023
DP – CAM Time for 2024 imo 👍. Happy to see him go. It was rare to see any positive emotion out of him . His salary and DP spot was holding the team back. Excited to see what we can do with the DP spot and new Salary Cap. 🦁
— OCLIONSFAN (@OCLIONSFAN1) August 31, 2023
Having a DP third choice was not ideal. Wish him all the best.
— dman (@dmanock) August 30, 2023
GL to him. Hopefully Kara can have some success and get the service he never got in Orlando.
— Mike McGovern (@mcg1848) August 30, 2023
🚨 BREAKING 🚨#OrlandoCity has confirmed Ercan Kara's departure. pic.twitter.com/Wb8BOb6wQe
— The English Lion (@TheEnglishLion1) September 2, 2023
Good guy. Didn’t fit here at all. Now let’s sign a dynamic #10 who can also score! 😂😁 #WishfulThinking pic.twitter.com/RPIRvuVlqT
— Jared Quackenbush (@Socjdqcer) August 30, 2023
Yeah I feel a little bad for Kara. I think he has the talent. He's just a different style player from Duncan and required more service imo. A little sad to see him go frankly. Nice to have reliable depth at #9
— Benjamin Hybart (@benhybart) August 30, 2023
Probably for the best all round
— Dan May (@thatdanmayguy) September 2, 2023
Hope he is in a place that is better for his game and his family. Always a Lion.
— @FLDataDude (@fldatadude2) September 2, 2023
Thanks for representing our crest Ercan.
— RUCKUS (@RuckusOrlando) September 2, 2023
Bicycle kick vs tigres should never be forgotten.
— Ghxst (@smokeyflarez) September 2, 2023
Thanks for everything Ercan 💜
— Carla Wawrzaszek (@CarlaWinOrlando) September 2, 2023
Thank you for all the goals Kara!
That bike 🚲 will never be forgotten 😲!
FOREVER A LION 🦁 https://t.co/tYzmloLkNT pic.twitter.com/uN8wZGe9Yc
— John Rawlins (@JohnRawlinsOCSC) September 2, 2023
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